Sunday, November 1, 2009

Meandering in realism . . .

Today is the birthday of Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900), novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist.

"A man said to the universe: Sir, I exist!However, replied the universe, The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." - Stephen Crane

"A singular disadvantage of the sea lies in the fact that after successfully surmounting one wave you discover another behind it just as important and just as nervously anxious to do something effective in the way of swamping boats. In a ten-foot dinghy one can get an idea of the resources of the sea in the line of waves that is not probable to the average experience, which is never at sea in a dinghy." - Stephen Crane

"You cannot choose your battlefield, God does that for you; But you can plant a standard where a standard never flew." - Stephen Crane

"If I am going to be drowned – if I am going to be drowned – if I am going to be drowned, why in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I allowed to come thus far and contemplate land and trees?" - Stephen Crane